Instrument assembly



May 29, 1928. 1,671,919

J. ZUBATY INSTRUMENT AS S EMBLY Filed Jan. 29, 1926 @bbo: mugs Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICB,

JOSEPH ZUBATY, OF FLIN T, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, 01

FLINT, MICHIGAN, .A COMBANY OF MICHIGAN.

INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY.

Application filed January 29, 1926. Serial No. 84,792.

This invention relatesto instrument assemblies and particularly to adash board assembly for automobiles soconstructed as to aflord effective illumination of theinstruments. I

The invention consists in the provision of a cover plate for an instrument or a plurality of instruments, the cover plate being provided with an aperture for the display of each of the instrument dials and with a reflecting device about the aperture for directing light upon the dial. A light source is arranged at the rear ofthe. cover plateso as to be shielded from. the eyes of the observer and casts a portion of its light upon the reflector. In order that the lighting of thedials may be eflectively accomplished, I have found it preferable to make the reflector discontinuous so that an opening isprovided for the direct projection of rays from the light source upon the reflector. I have also found it preferable to make the reflector of rearwardly flaring form to better project light upon the dial. a

I also make provisionin my assembly for the projection of light upon surrounding objects. Thusl have provided an aperture in the flange by which my cover plate is secured to the instrument panel, the aperture being so located that light rays are projected therethrough upon the floor of the drivers compartment.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my instrument assembly.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig ure 1.

Figure 3 is a View taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

The reference character 2 indicates an instrument panel of the type used upon automobiles. This may be of any desired material or configuration. The panel is provided with a plurality of apertures "for exposing the dials of instruments 4 secured to the panel by any suitable clamping means, not shown. 6 indicates a cover plate for the instruments,'this cover plate being provided with a peripheral flange 8 having an out-turned edge portion 10 adapted to lie against the front face of the instrument panel and to be secured thereto in any convenient way. The cover 6 is provided with apertures alined with the apertures in the instrument panel to permit inspection ofthe instrument dials. Around each of these apertures I have provided a reflector 12, preferably consisting of a rearwardly flared flange. This flange may conveniently be formed as an integral partof the cover 6by bending orswaging a portion of the material which would ordinarily be I'BIHOVQdlH providing the display. apertures. flanges 12 are discontinuous to provide passages 14; through which raysfrom the light source 16 mounted on the instrument board at therear, ofthe cover plate maybe ,directly projected. In order to conserve the energy. of the light source it is desirable that the inner surface of the cover plate be treated to constitute an efficient reflector; thus it maybe painted White or'nickelplated.

With the above constructionit-isappar l ent thatthe light 16.which is shielded from the eyes of the observer by the cover plate will project portions of its rays through passages 14 upon thereflectors 12 which direct the light'upon .the instrument dials. The

inclination of thereflectors 12 is such that no rays can be directly reflected therefrom into the eyes of the observer. Atthe same time the exterior of the cover plate presents an attractive unbroken surface.

If desired a portion of the light from the source 16 may be made use of for general illumination. I have provided an opening 18 in the flange 8 through which light may be cast upon the floor of the drivers compartment for the illumination of the transmission lock and operating levers.

While I have described the instruments as arranged behind individual apertures in the.

instrument boards, it is obvious that they may be grouped for display through a single aperture or otherwise arranged without departing from the spirit of my invention in its broader aspect.

I claim:

1. An instrument assembly comprising a plurality of instruments having dials, a cover for said instruments having openings for the inspection of said dials, rearwardly flaring flanges arranged about said openings arranged to reflect light upon said dials, said flanges being discontinuous providing openings for the admission of light to said flanges and dials, and a source of light at 'The the rear of said cover and between the last named openings.

2. The combination of an instrument board and an instrument assembly mounted on said board including instruments having dials, a cover for said, instruments having openings for the inspection of the dials, means for holding the cover plate spaced forwardly of the instrument board, said means being apertured, a light source at the rear of said cover plate adapted to illuminate said instruments and to project a portion of the light through said aperture for the illumination of the drivers compartment, and reflecting devices arranged about the inspection openings for reflecting light upon the instrument dials.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, said reflecting device comprising flanges formed about said openings, said flanges be ing discontinuous to afford passages for the projection of light upon the dials.

4. The combination of an instrument panel, an instrument mounted on said panel, a cover plate, a flange on said cover plate for securing the plate to the panel and holding it spaced therefrom, said cover plate being provided with an opening forthe inspection of the instrument dial, and with an inward ly turned flange around the opening adapted to reflect light upon said dial, a source of light shielded by said cover plate and adapted to illuminate said dial, and an opening in said first named flange for the projection of light rays for general illumination.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1-, said inwardly turned flange being discontmuous to provide a passage for the admisthe display of the instrument dial, said aperture having an inwardly turned flange, the flange being discontinuous to provide an opening, a light source for illuminating the dial at the rear of the face plate, said openin in the flan e'facin the li 'ht source D b 'C" h to permit the passage of rays to the'diali' 9. An automobile instrument board, a plurality of instruments mounted on'the board, a cover plate for the instruments mounted on the board independently of the'" instruments, said cover plate being provided with apertures for the display of the instrument dials, said apertures having inwardly turned flange-s, the flanges being'discontinuous to provide openings, therein, a light source for illuminating the dials at the rear of the cover plate, the openings inthe flanges facing the light source to permit sage of rays of light to the dials.

the pas- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH ZUBATY. 

